Baroness Ashton of Upholland: My honourable friend the Minister of State for Policing, Security and Community Safety (Mr Tony McNulty) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	The Justice and Home Affairs Council was held on 1 and 2 June 2006 in Luxembourg. My noble and learned friend Lord Goldsmith, the Attorney-General, and my noble friend Lady Ashton attended the meeting. I thought it would be useful if I were to outline what was discussed and decided at the council.
	The Austrian presidency opened the council with the "A" points list which was approved.
	The presidency secured a general approach to the European evidence warrant (EEW) following lengthy negotiations. Discussion at council focused on the two key issues of territoriality and definitions of offences. A ground for refusal based on where the offence took place was agreed, subject to the requirement that any decision is taken,
	"in exceptional circumstances and on a case by case basis",
	and after consulting Eurojust. The provision will be reviewed within five years of the EEW coming into force. Proposals to create definitions of certain offences for which dual criminality will not be applied in the framework decision remained unacceptable to most member states and agreement was only possible by allowing Germany to reserve the right to refuse assistance in respect of six offences if the definition of the offence is not that required by Germany. We are content with this compromise solution as we believe that, in practice, very few if any EEW requests relating to serious crime would be affected. I am aware that you have outstanding issues and hope that we can allay any concerns.
	There was discussion on the mutual recognition of custodial sentences. A number of member states maintain that a prisoner's consent should be the general rule although there was a split in the council. The issue of definition of residence has been remitted to official level.
	The presidency concluded that further work was required on the proposal for a framework decision on certain procedural rights. This will continue at senior official level with the UK urging the presidency to ensure future discussion fully involves the Council of Europe. Work will continue on both the legal instrument and proposals for practical measures. There remain concerns over the legal base, with the Government noting that there is a risk of legal uncertainty created by the creation of a parallel legal instrument to the ECHR.
	A general approach was agreed on a European small claims procedure. The UK supported this as it fulfilled the three principles agreed under the UK presidency that a small claims procedure be simple, swift and inexpensive.
	A general approach was not reached on the draft council decision on asset recovery offices. The presidency will seek a compromise with a view to adopting the council decision as an "A" point at the next JHA Council.
	The presidency noted the report on the future of Europol setting out concrete suggestions for improving the functioning of Europol and that it provided an excellent basis on which future presidencies could build. The question of whether to move to a more flexible legal framework than a convention remained open. The council conclusions were agreed, subject to a drafting change, based on a UK proposal; the government feel it is premature to state in the council conclusions that the Europol convention will be converted to a council decision.
	The presidency summarised the Vienna ministerial conference of 4 and 5 May and hoped to continue the dialogue that had been held between the EU, the US and Russia. Agreement was reached on the conclusions on the organised crime threat assessment (OCTA).
	There were presentations on the implementation of the EU counter-terrorism strategy and the follow up to Hampton Court as well as a lunch time presentation from Mr Michel Barrier on his recent report on crisis management. Council also heard from the commission on its initial reaction to the ECJ judgment on passenger name record and on the safe third country list.
	In the mixed committee, two subjects were discussed. A general approach was agreed on the revised test of the regulation on the second generation Schengen Information System (SIS II). The presidency clarified that UK and Ireland asylum authorities would not have access. Commission Vice-President, Mr Franco Frattini, made a presentation of a proposal for common application centres for visas.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: My right honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Employment Relations and Minister for London (Jim Fitzpatrick) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	I am pleased to announce that the Government have today written to the Low Pay Commission setting out the terms of reference for their 2007 report.
	The commission is asked to:
	Continue to monitor, evaluate and review the NMW and its impact, with particular reference to the effect on pay, employment and competitiveness in the low-paying sectors and small firms; the effect on different groups of workers, including different age groups, ethnic minorities, women and people with disabilities; the effect on pay structures; and taking into account the forthcoming changes to the statutory annual leave entitlement.
	The Government have asked the commission to report to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by the end of February 2007.
	Copies of the terms of reference have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.